Blue Ribbon smiles at Nuckols Farm

By Patty Kruszewski, Citizen Managing Editor 10/07/12

Henrico's Nuckols Farm Elementary School celebrated its new National Blue Ribbon School status Sept. 20 with a student body assembly, music, and visits from Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) leaders as well as representatives from Senator Mark Warner's office and the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Showing off the Blue Ribbon certificate at a reception following the ceremony [above] were Dr. Patrick Russo, HCPS superintendent; Deborah Delisle, assistant secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education; and Mary Cox, NFES principal.

Among the fifth-graders participating in the ceremony were David Lim, Kayla Walters, and Emma Connelly, who performed introductions, made remarks and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The fifth grade chorus also performed the song "Agents of Change" [inset].

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. The U.S. Department of Education will honor all of the nation’s 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools during a conference and awards ceremony Nov. 12-13 in Washington, DC.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88, stopped at Richmond Raceway Aug. 8 in advance of the track’s NASCAR weekend in September. He was joined by five players from the Washington Redskins, who were in town for the team's training camp, which concluded Aug. 14. The day in Richmond gave Earnhardt and the Redskins players an opportunity to see how the athletes compete in their respective sports. > Read more.

The READ Center is a top-200 cause finalist in State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program, making it eligible to earn a $25,000 grant to support adult literacy in the Richmond region. The 40 organizations from across the nation with the most votes will win grants.

The READ Center, based in Henrico, provides classroom instruction and one-to-one tutoring to adults with very low literacy. > Read more.

The host Glen Allen 14-year-old all-star baseball team won two of its first three games in pool play at the 14-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, which is it hosting at RF&P Stadium in Glen Allen. The team beat the Midwest Plains champions, 9-4, in its first game Aug. 10, then topped the Southwest champions, 7-3, Aug. 11 before dropping a 5-4 result to the Ohio Valley champions. > Read more.

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The fifth annual Youth Triathlon, presented by Endorphin Fitness, will take place at 8 a.m. at the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, 8716 West Broad St. The race is open to ages 5-14 and features a short pool swim, loop bike course closed to vehicular traffic, and a run on level playing fields. An optional four-day youth triathlon camp will precede the event, taking place Aug. 14-17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Participants will be taught essential skills of the sport in a safe, fun environment. Cost of the camp is $95. All proceeds from the event will benefit the children at VHBG. For details, fee information and registration for the VHBG Youth Triathlon and camp, visit http://www.endorphinfitness.com/vhbg-youth-triathlon. For details about sponsoring or volunteering at the triathlon, contact Joan Marble at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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